Extension-footwear.



No. 093,400. Patentedfen. 10,' |902.`

`w. .|0cHjmsEN.' EXTENSmN FOOTWEAR.

, (Application led Apr-58,1901.)

(No Model.)

I TN: nomma Pmns m.. PHoToLHHo.. WASHINGTON. n. t:`

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM JOCHIMSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EXTENSION-FOOTWEAR.

' srnorrrcnrron forming pere ef Lettere Patent Ne. 693,400,01ated February 18, 1902. lApplication filed April 6, 1901. Serial No. 54,681. (No modele) To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM JocHIMsEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension- Footwear, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to extension-footwear, and has for its object to provide improvements in this class offy footwear appertaining to' shoes, boots, slippers, and sandals and which shall possess points of superiority relating to simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction, comfort and ease in wear, neatness and unobtrusiveness in appearance, and general efficiency.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of an extension-shoe constructed according to my invention and fitted Within a shoe ofl normal construction. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the extension-shoe shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of construction.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates my improvements in extension-footwear as applied for use in connection with a shoe or boot. The device embodiesabottom member 2 and a top member 3,. which are connected at their forward ends, as at 4, and are maintained in spaced relation at their rearward ends by means of a suitable brace or support 5. The top member 3 isformedof a strip or sheet 6 of metal, wood, or other stiff material, which is bent or curved to iit the sole of the foot of the wearer. The bottom member 2 is comparatively fiat in formation and may be constructed of a sheet or strip 7 of metal, wood, or other stiff material. The top and bottom members at the forward point of connection 4 are preferably slightly separated by a block 8 of rubber or similar resilient material, and the connection means at 4 may consist of pegs or pins 9, which are passed through the sheets or strips 6 and 7 and through the rubber block 8. The eXtreme forward end of the member 2 preferably projects beyond the point of connection at 4, as at 10, and carries a toe piece or pad 11, against which the toes of the wearer of the device Inay rest.

dinary manner.

yThe upper member 3 is provided at its rearupon the metallic sheet or strip 6,r of which the member 3 is composed. The forward end of the upper member 3 is also provided at its sides with counters 14, which may consist of oppositely-arranged upwardly and inwardly projecting curved flanges 15,` formed upon the sheet or strip 6 of -which the uppermember is composed. The counters 12 and 14 effectively maintain the foot of the wearer upon the upper member 3 and prevent its displacement therefrom. The brace or support 5 may consist of an upright rod or stad 16. Reinforcement-plates 17 are interposed between the ends `of thesupport 5 and the upper member 6 and low'er member 7, whereby eXtreme rigidity of connection of the parts is obtained. The entire device, with the exception of the forward end portions of the members 6 and 7 including the counters 14, is inclosed within a flexible upper 18, whichis connected with thek sides of the lower member 7, as at 19, and extends considerably above the upper member 6, as at 20, to effectually inclose the foot of the wearer. The upper portion 20 of the upper 18 is provided with any suitable `form of lacing means 21, whereby the device may be securely fitted to the foot of the wearer. After the device has been secured upon the foot in operative position theentirety is inserted into the ordinary shoe, which is shown at 22 in Fig. 1, and the shoe is laced up in the or- The ball and toes ofthe foot of thewearer are ,effectively housed within the toe portion of the shoe 22,-and the instep portion of the foot is doubly braced and inclosed by the upper 18 ofthe extension .device and the customary shoe 22. When the entire device, including the shoe 22, is secured in position, the foot presents the normal appearance, especially if full-length trousers are worn, which trousers will obscure from View the part of the extension-shoe which projects above the top line, as at 23, of the customary shoe 22. i

The form of construction above described is adapted for use by short-limbed persons in IOO which the deformity is extreme, and in Fig. 3 is shown a similar form of extension-footwear which is adapted for use by cripples having a lesser degree of deformity. ln this form of construction the members 6 and 7 are spaced apart at a lesser degree and the rubber block 8 may be dispensed with. The remaining parts of the device may be in the main of the same construction as that above described, with the exception that the upper member is eut away or terminates at its forward end rearward of the ball of the foot, whereby the latter rests directly upon the lower member. The counter 12 may be employed in this form of construction and the counters 14 are omitted.

The operation and advantages of my improved extension-footwear will be readily understood. The foot of the wearer is fitted upon the upper member 3, consisting of the curved plate 6. and the toes rest against the t0epiece 1l.. The counter 14: arches over the toes of the foot and protects the same against extreme pressure, and the counter 12 maintains the heel of the foot in proper position. The upper 18 is firmly secured around the foot by theA lacing or other suitable fastening means 2l. The foot thus housed is inserted within the ordinary sh0e,'as illustrated in Fig. 1, which is laced up or secured in positionin the customary manner, and the entirety presents in the main the appearance of a single shoe with an upper of increased height. The resilient block 8, which is inserted and secured between the plates 6 and 7, gives a yielding support to the ball of the foot, and the upright support 5 firmly supports the heel portion of the foot. It will be noted that the space between the upper and the lower members 3 and 2 of the device is open, and the ent-ire device is therefore of light weight and does not constitute an appreciable incumbrance to the wearer.

The use of articles of extension-footwear constructed according to my invention is attended with a high degree of comfort and ease, the same being close fitting, light in weight, and serving to fully support the foot and ankle of the wearer. These advantages, coupled with neatness of appearance and simplicity of construction, make the device highly superior to the weighty and clumsy extension devices often employed.

Having thus described my invent-ion, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcnt- 1. As an improvement in extension-footwear, the herein-described device, comprising an upper plate or member and a lower plate or member which are connected at their forward ends and are spaced apart at their rearward ends, said upper plate or member being formed to fit the sole of the foot and being provided at its rearward end with a counter arranged to receive the heel of the foot, said upper plate or member being also provided at the sides of its forward end with upwardlyprojecting counters arranged t0 receive the ball of the foot, and an upper connected with one of said platesor members and extending above said upper plate or member whereby it may be secured across the instep portion of the foot.

2. As an improvement in extension-footwear, the herein-described device, comprising an upper plate or memberand a lower plate or member which are connected at their for ward ends and are spaced apart at their rearward ends, said upper plate or member being formed to fit the sole of the foot, a resilient element interposed between said plates or members attheir forward point of connection, and an upright support interposed between said plates or members at their rearward spaced ends, and an upper connected with one of said plates or members and eX- tending above said upper plate or member whereby it may be secured across the instep portion of the foot.

3. As an improvement in extension-footwear,the herein-described device,comprising, an upper plate or member and a lower plate or member which are connected at their forward ends, said upper plate or member being formed to fit the sole ofthe foot of the wearer, a countersecured to said upper plate or member at the rearward end thereof and arranged to receive the heel of the foot, and counters secured to the respective sides of the forward end of said upper plate or member and arranged to receive the ball of the foot, said upper plate or member being also provided at its forward end with a toe-piece, and an upper secured to one of said plates or members and extending above said upper plate or member whereby it maybe secured across the instep portion of the foot.

4. As an improvement in extension-footwear,the herein-described device, comprising an upper plate or member and a lower plate or member which are connected at their forward ends by means of an interposed resilient element and are spaced apart at their rearward ends by means of an upright rod or support upon which the upper plate or member directly rests, said upper plate or member being formed to fit the sole of the foot and being provided at its rearward end with a counter arranged to receive the heel of the foot, said upper plate or member being also provided at the sides of its forward end with upwardly-projecting counters arranged to receive the ball of the foot, and said lower plate or member being provided forwardly Of the forward end of said upper plate or member with a toe-piece.

5. As an improvement in extension-footwear,the herein-described device, comprising an upper plate or member and a lower plate or member which are connected at their forward ends and are spaced apart at their rearward ends by means of an upright rod or support upon which the rearward end of said upper plate or member directly rests, said up- IIO ' which is interposed between said upper plateor member and said lower plate or member and which are spaced apart at their rearward ends by means of an upright rod or support upon which the rearward end of said upper plate or member directly rests, and anupper connected with one of said plates or members and extending above saidupper plate or member whereby said upper maybe securedacross the instep portion of the foot, the entirety being adapted when fitted toa foot to be inserted within al shoe of normal oonstruction.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of thesubscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J OOHIMSEN.

Witnesses:

B.OL BLAKESLEE, M. SCHNELL. 

